Constructing false idols

We don’t need another hero (with apologies to Tina Turner)

If we look to the etymology of the word “virtue” from the Greek, it tells us virtue is characterised by “habitual excellence” and from the Latin virtus, we are informed it means manliness or courage. It is the habit of doing the right thing and doing it regularly and selflessly. It takes courage and strength of character to demonstrate genuine virtue. The bar is set fairly high for any one wishing to be considered virtuous, and it would seem for the sporting elite some of us set that bar even higher.

Charging sporting elites with a duty to act as positive role models is symptomatic of how we are bedazzled by fame and the trappings of celebrity. It signals desperation and a lack of confidence in those who look to the famous for guidance. And it reflects a sense that the common person is not intrinsically capable of setting their own standards and meeting them with out an external guiding hand.

Can our sporting stars be rich, famous AND virtuous? Yes they can be, but they should not be under any more of an obligation to be virtuous than the rest of us. Highly paid and over scrutinised sporting stars are under pressure to conduct themselves as role models. But a cursory read of our newspapers would suggest that very few of them take that expectation seriously. Some have even gone so far as to publicly reject the call for them to act as paragons of virtue.

In a recent article on the website of the West Coast Eagles the prominent mid fielder and Brownlow medallist, Chris Judd, rejected expectations that he and his peers be role models. Neale Fong, the West Australian Football Commission Chairman did not support Judd’s position on the issue. He insisted that, along with his sporting colleagues, Chris Judd was a role model. And Matthew Pavlich of the Fremantle Dockers, writing in the West Australian Sunday Times in April 2004, felt that the sins of the sporting elite should be left behind closed doors were they belong. He clearly felt his off field behaviour was his own business.

But Patrick White in The Weekend Australian (July 29, 2005) referring to Judd’s article said the lads had no choice; they were role models like it or not. Even though he added that they might be either good or bad role models the expectation was clear. He is of the view they ought to behave well because of their position and status. But White’s expectation is unjustified and his faith is misplaced.

As there are members of the sporting elite who reject the notion they should act as positive role models there are also those whose conduct in real life highlights their susceptibility to moral and ethical failings. There are countless examples of conduct by high profile sports stars that fall well below community standards.

You don’t need to look too hard to find instances on the international stage. Take, for example, the Tonya Harding nonsense in the lead up to the XV11 Winter Olympics in Norway; the endless doping scandals surrounding most of the power events in international sports; drug abuses in recent years that have been linked to the Tour de France; and the world of boxing has also thrown up its fair share of scallywags.

A prominent South African cricketer was embroiled in a match fixing scandal recently and even highly ranked snooker players display their fair share of bad behaviour at times. And let’s not forget O.J. Simpson.

Sports people have nothing to recommend them to the rest of us as role models and it should not be expected of them.

And neither are we immune from this nonsense locally. In the past few years we have seen stories relating to allegations of violent sexual misconduct; links with the underworld; alcohol fuelled violence; drunk driving; theft; fraud; drug use to enhance performance and for recreational purposes; marital infidelity; and all other manner of stupidity.

If any one thinks sports stars should operate under some moral code more rigorous than that of the general public some one should tell them - and tell them quickly because the message is not getting through.

Society regularly points to prominent persons who conduct themselves well and suggests they should be emulated. It is hard to understand however why people would deem it appropriate to unilaterally elect one class of people to be role models based purely on social prominence and a unique set of skills. None of those characteristics are of themselves virtuous. They may be testimony to hard work, a strong sense of commitment and possibly a tendency to obsessive compulsion, but they certainly are not hallmarks of virtue.

Society is full of people with highly developed technical, intellectual and artistic skills and there are other “elites” apart from sports stars. But their combination of a unique skill set together with social and cultural prominence sees sports stars often and inappropriately singled out as role models for the rest of us.

In the Australian context the cult of celebrity has led us to a preoccupation with sporting stars. Nationally we afford them far more credit than they deserve. For some perverse reason this gives rise to the expectation they should be exemplars to the rest of us. This expectation is also coupled with an unrealistic assumption about their capabilities that extends far outside of the sporting arena. We elevate them to a place of honour related to their sporting prowess and then attach to them a raft of other attributes.

History has shown that should any one be foolish enough to assume any one class of people must be role models, like the sports elite for example, they are courting disappointment.

When the elite athlete steps out of line it becomes a matter of national contention. Bad behaviour in all its forms is the bread and butter of most media but when it comes plated up with a sports star the news is considered even tastier. But more than being just a topic of prurient interest the issue of role modelling is raised: “how could they let down their fans?” it is asked, or statements are made suggesting their conduct is “bringing the game into disrepute” and they “are sending the wrong message”. Assuming the elite are subject to the rule of law and are punished for their indiscretions should we really care what they get up to? I think not.

Our social structures have undergone substantial changes over time. Many of these changes engender anxiety and fear. Accordingly many look beyond themselves or their own networks for good role models. The role and influence of the father for example has largely been de-emphasised in many western cultures. Fathers are less omnipotent than they once were and in many cases less accessible. In increasing numbers for some there is no father at all.

The absence of this particular role model has been blamed in part for varying degrees of delinquency and some children failing to achieve. Sports people - and other celebrities too - have been lumbered with the responsibility of the role model in order to fill that void. For the apparent lack of any one being around for people to “look up to” we have constructed false idols. It is sad indeed when we need some one else to emulate, or that we think when it comes to setting good examples we’re not quite up to it ourselves.

Some in the sporting commentariat - and in the broader community - seem to think without the sporting elite leading the way the social fabric might somehow unravel. Such a nervous disposition is evidence of a sense of growing anomie. It would seem that there are those who really do believe sports people have a social purpose other than being representative of their sport. The cult of the celebrity has distorted our moral prism as well as our self-confidence.

If our efforts in mapping out a reasonable course of conduct for our children, or ourselves for that matter, are thrown into disarray because a few footballers get involved in a nightclub brawl we’ve got a problem. Not every kid aspiring to be a tennis player turned out to be a dummy spitter just because John McEnroe had anger management problems at the height of his powers. Most people are more sensible than that. Most of us have our own moral compass.

History has demonstrated role models present themselves naturally. Foisting undue expectations on a reluctant subject will serve no useful purpose and in fact may result in a paradoxical effect. Bad behaviour may arise from out of a sentiment of resentment and a sense of being over burdened.

The fact so many sporting elite blot their copybook is to the community’s advantage. Those events serve to undermine the innappropriate deification of these otherwise ordinary people. And when an athlete does show himself or herself to be a person of integrity and virtue they stand out like a beacon and then they just might be worth considering as a role model.